Recycling of Used Engine Oil for Cooking Fuel Using Solar Thermal Pyrolysis

Abstract

[enter Abstract Body]Engine oil is lubricating oil that has been used to reduce friction between moving parts, and as a result of such use, physical contamination and chemical impurities of it have occurred. Waste lubricant oil is one of the most serious pollutants that are generated in most areas of our world. Likewise, in Jimma town, used lubricating oils that are disposed from private garages and other government institutions are a source of suffering for the surrounding societies. This is mainly because of waste lubricating oils are one of the major contributing factors for environmental pollution. Many scientific studies have also indicated that because of ineffective disposal mechanisms, waste lubricating oils have been causing serious environmental challenge and harmful health issue. Cognizant to this fact, this thesis attempts to make an analysis of the processes of converting waste oil into more valuable products such as fuel. Among others, the main way that the researcher had practised for recycling of used lubricating oils is treating by pyrolysis process, which consists of recovering the original base oil to be reused in the formulation of new products or generate different product from its original base like fuels. To achieve the required result, multivariate experimental practices were adopted for this study. The system adopted in the experiment was covering conversion of the waste engine oil in to fuel product by pyrolysis with pre or post-chemical treatment. Besides, the energy source used for conducting the process was solar thermal energy using parabolic dish collector. Following experimental analysis in different procedures, the fuels which had different calorific value (characterization was performed by Geological Survey of Ethiopia, Geochemical Laboratory Directorates) were generated. The result of this experimental study indicated that from the sampled eight experiments, the best fuel which can be used for cooking stove that has 44,678.88 KJ/Kg calorific value, 840 Kg/m3 density, 3.65 mm2/s kinematic viscosity and 52oC flash point was found. It has been concluded that, production of fuel from waste engine oil using solar thermal pyrolysis is a profitable business by replacing kerosene which is currently imported from abroad and solving environmental defects which have been caused due o improper handling of WEO.